Yankees vs. Dodgers Friday MLB injury report, odds: Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson return for potential World Series preview

There aren't that many can't-miss series in a 162-game baseball regular season, but maybe the most anticipated series of the year starts Friday in Los Angeles as the Yankees visit the Dodgers in a potential World Series preview – Fox TV executives would be absolutely giddy if that's the case. The Yankees will welcome back two big reinforcements and former league MVPs from injury for the opener in Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson. New York has also activated reliever Tommy Kahnle. The Dodgers are -140 favorites at Caesars Sportsbook.

New York and L.A. led the majors for wins in May. The Yankees are +650 third-favorites at the sportsbook to win the AL pennant but might have to take the wild card route to do it, as they're already six games back of first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East. New York is -425 to make the playoffs, with No at +340. The Dodgers are +220 favorites to win the NL and are tied for first place in the NL West.

On Thursday, the Yankees optioned outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero and reliever Matt Krook to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to open roster spots for Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle from the injured list before Friday's series opener.

Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP and home run champion with the Marlins, hasn't played since April 15 due to a hamstring injury. Multiple stints on the injured list every season are all but a sure thing at this point in his career. Stanton is hitting .269 with four homers and 11 RBI in 52 at-bats. He's the L.A. area and won last year's All-Star Game MVP award at Dodger Stadium. Stanton will be limited to DH duties for a while. He is +340 to go yard Friday.

Donaldson, the 2015 AL MVP with Toronto, has been out since April 5 with his own hamstring issue. He was hitting just .125 with a homer in five games. Boone has indicated that he expects Donaldson to reclaim an everyday spot as the Yankees' third baseman. DJ LeMahieu would return to a utility role. Kahnle hasn't pitched this season due to right biceps tendonitis. He had a 2.84 ERA last year in 13 games with the Dodgers. First baseman Anthony Rizzo missed some time this week with a neck issue, but should be available.

Luis Severino (0-0, 1.59 ERA) starts on the mound for New York. He has only made two appearances this season after returning from an injury of his own, but held San Diego to an earned run on one hit over 6.2 innings last time out. Freddie Freeman is 0-for-2 against him. Freeman enters with on a 20-game hitting streak.

It's three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw (6-4, 3.32 ERA) for Los Angeles. The 35-year-old was great in April but had a 5.55 ERA in five May starts, lasting more than five innings once. He is 0-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 27 career innings against the Yankees and hasn't seen them since Aug. 25, 2019. Stanton is 5-for-18 with two doubles and two homers off Kershaw. Aaron Judge is 1-for-3 off him with a homer. 

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